The story so far: The newly elected United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala has decided to continue with the centrally sponsored education scheme — PM-SHRI (Prime Minister’s Schools for Rising India).

The previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) had signed the agreement on October 16 last year after years of ideological opposition. However, it had to walk back its decision when coalition ally the Communist Party of India (CPI) went on the offensive alleging that neither the Cabinet nor the LDF partners were brought on board before inking the agreement. A letter was subsequently sent to the Union government in November informing it of the State’s decision to pause the scheme and constitute a Cabinet subcommittee to review the PM-SHRI implementation.

What is the UDF’s stance now?

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan says Kerala has been forced to continue with the controversial project as the previous LDF government had “already entered into an agreement” and “received money” from the Union government. However, the implementation is subject to the conditions that the Union government will not intervene in the curriculum framework and that the State government will have the freedom to choose the schools in which it will be implemented. Also, the State is in need of the ₹1,100 crore being held up by the Union government.

The UDF too has formed a four-member Cabinet subcommittee to study the scheme implementation.

Why is the LDF opposing the decision?

The LDF has alleged a Congress-BJP deal behind the decision to go ahead with the PM-SHRI scheme.

When the scheme MoU was signed, the UDF that was in the Opposition then spread the “lie” of a CPI(M)-BJP deal for saffronisation of education. At that time, UDF leaders V.D. Satheesan, K.C. Venugopal and P.K. Kunhalikutty said if the UDF came to power, it would not implement PM-SHRI. The UDF did not spare any efforts in wielding the issue as a weapon during the elections, points out the LDF.

Now that the UDF is in the saddle, it has done a U-turn and is claiming to explore what can be done with regard to the scheme without sacrificing the State’s rights. Why is the UDF going ahead with the implementation of a scheme that the LDF had frozen. The UDF, which tried to gain political advantage by misleading the people, should apologise to them, according to the LDF.

Kerala’s secular society will not allow the National Education Policy (NEP), ‘which is the agenda of the Sangh Parivar,’ to be implemented in the State, like it was done in other Congress-ruled States, it says.

PM SHRI funds accepted, but curriculum control will remain with Kerala: Satheesan

PM SHRI funds accepted, but curriculum control will remain with Kerala: Satheesan | Video Credit: The Hindu

Why is the BJP celebrating the decision?

The BJP, on the other hand, sees the UDF decision as a win. PM-SHRI has been implemented in other States, even those ruled by the Congress, years ago, it points out.

BJP leaders say not only PM-SHRI but the NEP too will be implemented in the State. The NEP does not propose anything objectionable in curriculum. Whatever is being learnt by students in other States, those in Kerala will study too. PM-SHRI will not harm the students in the State in any way.

The BJP alleges that Mr. Satheesan, when he was in the Opposition, had claimed that then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had gone ahead with the project after meeting the Union Home Minister as if huge pressure was being exerted on the LDF government. PM-SHRI was against the interests of the State and any attempt to impose it would be resisted, Mr. Satheesan had said.

His remarks had generated much enthusiasm in the IUML and Jamaat-e-Islami. However, it was a matter of pride for Malayalis that an IUML Minister was being made to implement PM-SHRI in Kerala now, says the BJP.

The BJP will not allow anyone to distort historical facts and create textbooks tailored to the political interests of the LDF and the IUML. Both the LDF and the UDF delayed the implementation of PM-SHRI for four years for political reasons. Mr. Satheesan and Mr. Vijayan should apologise to students and their parents for denying them modern educational facilities and methods. On account of the wrong policies of the two fronts, Kerala lost crores that schools should have got for infrastructure development, it alleges.